Los Angeles Clippers guard Terrace Mann (14) goes up to take a shot against the Golden State Warriors Jonathan Kuminga (front right) at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Thu Dec 14, 2023 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Golden State Warriors (10-14) got close in this game, in fact it was a one-point game in the fourth quarter 103-102. The Los Angeles Clippers (14-10) hung tough in a very close match-up winning their sixth in a row. The final was 121-113.

Thursday night the Warriors (10-14) traveled to Los Angeles to take on the Clippers (14-10). The starting roster for this game had been changed up due to the indefinite suspension of Draymond Green. Andrew Wiggins started the game on the bench and Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski started the game. 

Kuminga has been playing lights out basketball and got a great chance to continue to prove himself with 15 points. The Warriors will be missing Draymond Green and Gary Payton II especially on the defensive end. The Clippers are really clicking right now and have won five in a row and will be looking for number six. These guys are playing outstanding basketball and it will be a tough call.

Game recap: This game was a close one as it got underway with the Clippers leading after the first 12 minutes 29-28. Los Angeles began to get some separation leading at the half 69-56. The Clippers had really turned it on winning the second quarter 40-28. 

The Warriors were struggling trying to keep James Harden from penetrating their defense and those pesky turnovers began to rear their ugly heads as well as misses from the line. Kawhi Leonard was also giving the Warriors a run for their money. At the half Harden had 18 points and Leonard had 17. Golden State needed to find some rhythm in the second half of this game.

The Warriors trimmed a 16 point Clipper lead to nine in the third quarter. At 7:00 in the third the Clippers had hung onto a 86-73 lead. Klay Thompson was keeping the Warriors in the game hitting 7 of 9 three’s with 27 points so far in this game. 

The Clippers refused to cool off putting a lot of pressure on the Warrior offense. Every time the Warriors threatened, the Clippers had the answer. Golden State would inch closer and Los Angeles would shut it down. 

With 2.5 left on the clock in the quarter Chris Paul hit a three to cut the Clipper lead to six 99-93. After trailing by 16, the Warriors had now pulled to within six points. They had cut down on the turnovers protecting the ball well and had won the quarter 37-30.

As the fourth quarter got underway the Warriors began to put on a lot of pressure in the paint and Golden State took over as the aggressor against one of the best teams in the league. With 8:51 left on the clock it was a one-point game 103-102 in favor of the Clippers. 

The Warriors had gone on a 16 to 4 run in a real battle. With under seven minutes left in the game the Clippers began to push back leading 108-102. The Warriors needed to make some buckets down the stretch because the Clippers were doing some great defensive things. 

Los Angeles is the third best defensive team in the league and they were putting on quite a show in this game. Thompson hit his eighth three with under six minutes and it was a fourth point game 111-107. 

Misses in the final three minutes by Golden State was the difference in this game, one of the reason that they came up short. Stephen Curry was 0-3 in the fourth quarter as Los Angeles closed out this game 121-113.

Thompson was the high for the Warriors with 30 points. The Warriors had a tough time with the extensive weapons that the Clippers possess. Golden State dropped to a 10-14 record.

The Clippers James Harden finished with 28 points followed by Leonard scoring 27. Amir Coffey had 18 and off the bench Norman Powell with 21. The team was also not at full strength with Paul George out due to left hip soreness in this game. They will be chasing number seven Saturday as they take on the Knicks.

Saturday night the Golden State Warriors return home to host the Brooklyn Nets at Chase Center with a 5:30pm PT tip off.